Tropicals, Woody > Agathis > Agathis australis > Agathis australis
Agathis australis
Kauri
Origin: Native to the North Island of New Zealand to 38° south.
Mike's
Opinion
"
The Kauri is a very primitive type of pine that were prolific before the dinosaurs and the super continent Gondawana broke up. Specimens persevered under water in swamps in North New Zealand date from 30,000-50,000 years.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Araucariaceae |
| Genus |
| Agathis |
| Species |
| australis |
| Category |
| Tropicals, Woody |
| Type |
| Tree (evergreen) |
| Pronunciation |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 9 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| Requires cool season protection under glass. |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H4 - H3 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| -7 - (-1) |
| Temperature (°F) |
| 20 - 30 |
| Height |
| 40 - 50 m |
| Spread |
| 6 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| Growth |
| Slow |
| Habitat |
| Marginally temperate compared to other species of Agathis, surviving on the lowlands at the north end of the North Island, New Zealand. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Bark is grey suffused purple with whorled branches. |
| Leaf Description |
| Leaves are dimorphic, being 10 x 1 cm and glaucous green on young trees and 6 x 1.5 cm with an obtuse apex on mature trees. |
| Fruit Description |
| Male cones are cylindric, to 6 x 1 cm, while female cones are subglobose, to 6 x 8 cm and woody. Seeds are beige with wings to 1.5 cm wide. |
| Notable Specimens |
| The largest of the genus named Tane Mahuta is found growing in the Waipoua Forest on the northern tip of the North Island of New Zealand. Tane Mahuta has a circumference of 13.71 m, a height of 51.51 m, and a volume of 2631.9 cubic metres. Tane Mahuta is estimated to be over 2100 years old, and begins branching some 17.98 m from the ground. |
| Propagation |
| Cultivate via seed, or cuttings from leading or erect epicormic shoots. |
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